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Audio labels to help blind people | |
(3 days later) | |
A device that allows blind people to attach and read audio labels on everyday objects has gone on show. | A device that allows blind people to attach and read audio labels on everyday objects has gone on show. |
The PenFriend uses minute barcodes which - when scanned by a digital pen - trigger MP3 files recorded on the unit. | The PenFriend uses minute barcodes which - when scanned by a digital pen - trigger MP3 files recorded on the unit. |
It has been developed by a UK firm together with the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB). | It has been developed by a UK firm together with the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB). |
It costs less than £60, and can be used to label foods and medication as well as clothing, personal documentation and film and music collections. | It costs less than £60, and can be used to label foods and medication as well as clothing, personal documentation and film and music collections. |
"At the moment we are just scratching the surface: we are starting development of address books, organisers, diaries and calendars," explained Alison Long of the RNIB. | "At the moment we are just scratching the surface: we are starting development of address books, organisers, diaries and calendars," explained Alison Long of the RNIB. |
'Software secret' | 'Software secret' |
The PenFriend is the result of collaboration between the charity and London-based company, Mantra Lingua. | The PenFriend is the result of collaboration between the charity and London-based company, Mantra Lingua. |
It uses optical identification technology (OID) to print microdots on to adhesive labels which are then read by the scanner in the tip of the PenFriend. | It uses optical identification technology (OID) to print microdots on to adhesive labels which are then read by the scanner in the tip of the PenFriend. |
This in turn triggers an MP3 file, usually of the user's own voice, giving a spoken description of the item that is labelled. | |
It can hold up to 70 hours of audio recordings and can also be used as a standard MP3 player. | It can hold up to 70 hours of audio recordings and can also be used as a standard MP3 player. |
This means that people are not limited to just a few seconds to describe the object being labelled. | This means that people are not limited to just a few seconds to describe the object being labelled. |
Information such as a food item's sell-by date, its ingredients and even cooking instructions can be included. | Information such as a food item's sell-by date, its ingredients and even cooking instructions can be included. |
In the case of medication, the purchase date and dosing instructions can be added. | In the case of medication, the purchase date and dosing instructions can be added. |
Mantra Lingua originally used a talking pen device with its children's books and approached the RNIB to see whether it would be useful for vision-impaired children. | Mantra Lingua originally used a talking pen device with its children's books and approached the RNIB to see whether it would be useful for vision-impaired children. |
Coincidentally, the charity had been looking for a low-cost labelling product. | Coincidentally, the charity had been looking for a low-cost labelling product. |
"We saw the potential in the talking pen and commissioned them [Mantra Lingua] to develop and manufacture the PenFriend," explained Ms Long. | "We saw the potential in the talking pen and commissioned them [Mantra Lingua] to develop and manufacture the PenFriend," explained Ms Long. |
She says that the secret of the device is in the software that reads the microdot barcodes. | She says that the secret of the device is in the software that reads the microdot barcodes. |
Audio labelling is not a new idea, but previous versions tended to use more expensive Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags to label products. | Audio labelling is not a new idea, but previous versions tended to use more expensive Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags to label products. |
"This is exciting because it's giving people independence at an affordable price and without being technical," said Ms Long. | "This is exciting because it's giving people independence at an affordable price and without being technical," said Ms Long. |
"We've already had a lot of positive feedback - so many letters from people who have said it has changed their lives." | "We've already had a lot of positive feedback - so many letters from people who have said it has changed their lives." |
It was on show at the RNIB Techshare exhibition in London's Docklands. | It was on show at the RNIB Techshare exhibition in London's Docklands. |
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